35+ Healthy & Delicious High Protein Overnight Oats Recipes

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Are you looking for an easy nutritious breakfast that is healthy and high in protein? High protein overnight oats are the answer! Check out 35+ recipes of these delicious mason jar breakfasts that will have a permanent place on your meal plan! Perfect for busy mornings – grab-and-go! This post included recipes both with protein powder AND without protein powder!

The Ease of Overnight Oats

As life gets busier and busier, now more than ever, we need some shortcuts. As a mom who has my own business and homeschools my twin 9-year-old sons, I’m always on the hunt for time-saving hacks. Even better if it includes something that’s healthy too.

The appeal of overnight oats is obvious. Not only do I love that you can make it in bulk with just simple meal prep ahead of time, but I LOVE that it requires no cooking or baking! Just prepare it in an airtight container, pop in the fridge, and you’re good to go! 

Overnight oats are convenient and are a great grab-and-go breakfast when you’re in a rush on those busy mornings.

overnight oats high protein collage

What are Overnight Oats?

Overnight oats is a way to prepare oats ahead of time by combining ingredients the night before and letting them soak in liquid overnight in the refrigerator to soften rather than cook them. 

The best oats to use for overnight oats is old-fashioned rolled oats; instant oats just about dissolve, and steel-cut oats are chewy and dense. Quick oats are mushy, if you like that texture, but can be used. For best results, use old-fashioned oats.

Certified gluten-free oats can also be used if you’re gluten-free.

Recipes vary in the types of liquid to soak the oats in, such as milk or yogurt as well as the ratio, depending on the consistency. 

Overnight oats usually include a kind of sweetener, such as agave nectar, brown sugar, honey, coconut sugar, or maple syrup. Jam, juice, or pureed fruit can also be used.

Extra flavors such as coconut, cinnamon or vanilla extract can be included as well.

While chia seed can be added in the night before, nuts, and other mix-ins such as fresh fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips are better added in the morning, so they don’t get soggy.

Wake up, pull it out of the fridge, add your mix-ins, give it a good stir, throw on your favorite toppings, and you’re good to go!

The Real Magic of Overnight Oats: Hello, High Protein

One of the latest trends in healthy eating these days (and rightly so) is incorporating more protein in our meals.

While oatmeal is a healthy option on its own, it doesn’t move the needle that much if you’re counting grams of protein.

It’s recommended that we get 0.36 grams per pound of body weight for a sedentary person, so finding way to increase healthy protein is essential.

These overnight oats recipes I’m sharing today are specifically designed to give you an extra boost of protein first thing in the morning.

Not only does it help you meet your daily protein goal, but the protein will keep you feeling full longer, which can help prevent overeating throughout the day.

The idea behind high-protein overnight oats is to include extra protein sources, such as Greek yogurt, nut or almond butter, nuts, seeds, or protein powder, whether that’s plant-based protein powder or whey protein.

Each of these is a great source of protein.

All combined, you can have a breakfast that is anywhere from 8 grams of protein on the low end all the way up to almost 40 grams of protein!

Things to Be Aware of with High Protein Overnight Oats Recipes

There are just a few things to keep in mind when you’re creating these recipes.

High Protein is Not Low Calorie

Everyone tracks their health goals differently. Some track macros, some track calories, some eat intuitively.

If a recipe is very high in protein, there’s a chance will be high in calories and /or fat as well. 

Now likely, they are healthy fats. But if you are counting calories, some recipes can be close to 500 calories. So just keep that in mind and look at the full nutritional info.

You may opt to make a smaller serving size or maybe omit or lessen a few ingredients if you have weight loss goals.

Amounts of Protein Depends on Sources of Protein

Almost every recipe will cite the grams of proteins. However, some of the recipes (about half) include protein powder in their ingredients. The exact amount of protein will depend on which protein powder you use. A scoop of protein powder is not the same across the board.

Calories also vary depending on the protein powder you use. Just be aware of how an adjustment in protein powder or another ingredient might impact the nutritional information.

Adjustments for Dairy Free

A lot of the recipes will call for either milk or yogurt in the recipe. If you follow a dairy free diet, you can use alternatives such as full fat coconut milk or cream, dairy free yogurt instead of Greek yogurt, or non-dairy milk such as unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk.

Protein vs Non-Protein Powder Recipes

​As I said, the best part about overnight oats is convenience. Yet, it can be frustrating when you’re looking up recipes and finds that it calls for protein powder, and you don’t have any (or do use it at all).

I’ve been there.

For that reason, I included recipes both kinds of recipes – ones that HAVE protein powder in the recipes as well as ones DO NOT HAVE protein powder.

Instead, the ones with no protein powder use simple ingredients you probably have on hand and also include other great sources of protein.

35+ Overnight Oat Recipes, High Protein Edition

In the description, I’ve listed whether or not the recipe calls for protein powder or not, to save you some time.

I’ve also included the protein content (which may depend on the type of protein powder), so you have an idea before you click over for the recipe.

Recipes 1-17 are recipes WITHOUT PROTEIN POWDER.

Recipes 18-38 are recipes WITH PROTEIN POWDER.

Some recipes states that you can omit protein powder or that it’s optional. Be sure to read the instructions closely. Also be aware that omitting it will likely impact the amount of protein the recipe.

​Ok, let’s get to these high-protein breakfast delights!

Weren’t those recipes great? I just love that you can make something simple and easy like overnight oats AND have it filled with healthy sources of protein too!

More Healthy Eating Options

If you’re looking for more ideas for healthy eating, take a look at these other posts!

50+ Best Healthy Casserole Recipes for Easy Dinners

20 Best Healthy Hot Drinks to Keep You Warm All Winter

50 Healthy, EASY Weeknight Dinner Recipes for Busy Moms

35 Easy & Healthy Crockpot Recipes (Clean | Paleo | Whole30)

30 Healthy Appetizers (Clean | Paleo | Whole30)

Other thoughts? Leave a comment below!

And if you enjoyed this article, I’d be so grateful if you pinned or shared it!

overnight oats high protein collage

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